Research finds mid-level and leadership roles increasingly hard to fill as employers report reservations about recruits

The skills gaps in leadership and management are at a critical level, according to a major UK-wide report from ScreenSkills.

More than a third (37%) of screen industry employers who responded to the organisation’s Powering Production: Identifying Skills Needs in the UK’s Screen Sector report highlighted major deficiencies in this area of the workforce, which they said pose a “considerable risk” to production quality and long-term growth.

According to the findings, less that one in five employers (18%) in London reported all hires, in the last year, were able to do their job at the required level. The region this issue is most pronounced is Northern Ireland, where fewer than one in 10 respondents (8%) said all their recruits can perform their role to the required level.

One in 10 respondents (11%) across the UK said only around half – sometimes less than – of their recent hires can do their job to the necessary requirements.

The nationwide survey drew on data from more than 500 employers in the UK’s screen sector and they largely view the UK workforce as one of the best in the global industry, with 80% deemed proficient. ScreenSkills acknowledged London is where half of respondents are based, with no more than 10% working in each of the other English regions, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

However, they reported mid-level ‘step-up’ and leadership roles are increasingly hard to fill with people who have adequate skills – six in 10 employers cited recruitment difficulties.

These shortages are further exacerbated by the broad variety of productions, combined with limited experience across different scales of production and budgets.

Skills gaps, shortages and the interventions to solve them were relatively consistent across the UK, although a lack of skills is most pronounced in the Midlands and the East of England (81%) and less of a concern for respondents in London (61%) and in the South West (61%).

‘Lack of experience’ was the predominant issue for Scottish employers (73%) and those in the Midlands and the East of England (71%), with less concern from those in the North of England (49%) and London (51%).

On-the-job training was identified as the most useful intervention for around half (46%) of all respondents. In Wales, 48% of employers said ‘job shadowing’ was valuable, while ‘mentoring/coaching’ was the most-recognised practice highest (48%) in the Midlands and the East of England.

Overall, real-life experience is considered the most effective and valuable strategies to tackle these challenges, with just over a third of respondents (39%) said mentoring and coaching was crucial, while a quarter cited job shadowing (28%).

Mid-level and delivery-critical roles were the hardest to fill: VFX supervisors, post-producers, production co-ordinators, producers and unscripted TV directors were all identified as shortage areas.

While the report outlines that the industry’s training needs lie predominantly at mid-level and in leadership capability, 21% of employers recognised apprenticeships as one of the most useful training interventions.

Among HETV employers, respondents predominantly (71%) said recruitment difficulties are hampered by applicants not having the sufficient skills, suggesting the gaps in this space are more pronounced than other sub-sectors.

In unscripted TV, fewer respondents reported recruitment difficulties due to a ‘low number of people with the required skills’ (60%), suggesting fewer skills gaps than other sub-sectors.

AI skills base

The emergence of AI has revealed concerns around copyright liability and risk, with just over half (52%) of employers noting they expect AI to change some working practices in their department. Many are unsure of how AI technology will be adopted, and many were unable to specify which roles lack AI skills.

Interpersonal skills are vital, respondents said, for adapting to new technologies, and the uncertainly around AI underscored the need for upskilling and reassurance across the screen workforce.

Laura Mansfield, chief executive of ScreenSkills, said: “At a time when many people, freelancers especially, are out of work, 65% of employers are citing difficulties in recruiting due to a lack of required skills.

“This research clearly identifies skills gaps and shortages within the industry and shows that continued investment in upskilling is essential to close that gap.

“ScreenSkills will support the industry in working collectively to address these skills gaps and shortages in leadership, management and AI outlined in the report…to maintain the UK’s reputation for excellence in TV and film, and remain creatively and commercially competitive in a global market, we must invest in the talented people behind the scenes.”